Later that morning, I worked in Heidi’s garden some more while she went out to the market. When she came back, and after watering a few plants, she gave a heavy sigh. “They’re dying again…” she murmured, looking at her plants with downcast eyes. “And they were doing so well.”

I didn’t like offering suggestions at the best of times, but because I liked Heidi, and I knew she didn’t judge me like the Gods did, I felt comfortable with saying, “Have you ever thought about trying something else?”

She made a face. “Like what? I haven’t got any other talents. It’s the only thing I ever learned from my father.”

“You have the passion to do whatever you want, Heidi.”

“I would love to be a wife or mother, but I doubt I'd be any good at it, and that's the only thing that's really available to me. Besides, the men in the village already consider me un-marriable for dirtying my hands and working this job."

“I don’t think you’d make a good mother…” I agreed in a murmur.

“Exactly. Why’s life so unfair?” She complained, kneeling to pet one of her plants to help herself relax.

I had no answers for her. Indeed, I agreed with her. “Maybe you can find a way to make it fair… you may not make a good wife or mother, but you put in enough hard work to be a business owner.”

Heidi just grinned at my silently, clearly appreciative of my confidence in her, but disbelieving that she could actually accomplish such a thing.

After that I went back inside the house to be by myself. I sat  on my bed and stared at the wall. I supposed I really should leave the village as Nikolai has warned and go to the Maheshans.

I was scared. It was more than possible to die when my powers were stripped away. And here… I just felt safe. But if I cared anything for Katharos and Heidi, I decided that it was best that I leave and go to the Maheshans.